A constituição da Banda Real na Corte Joanina (1721-24)

Abstract

Alongside the Portuguese Royal Chapel, formed by Italian musicians, there existed from 1724 onwards a body of trumpet and timpani players whose creation had been ordered by the king in 1721. For almost three years a complex process unfolded which involved the search for, selection and hiring of a body of almost exclusively German musicians who would be able to guarantee musically the role of exhibition of royal power during the presence of members of the royal family outside the walls of the Ribeira Palace. Besides the diplomatic plot and the actual hiring process, it is particularly interesting to examine the equipment and the instruments which the royal household acquired together with the players. Contrary to what was believed until now, there is every indication that the famous 24 silver trumpets of Joseph I’s trumpet players had already arrived in Lisbon in the luggage of the members of the Band of the Magnanimous King.